Shuttle for looms



Jan. 22, 1957 F. Y. COLLINS SHUTTLE FOR LOOMS Filed March 21, 1955 IN VEN TOR. FLOYD Youue COLLINS A TTORNE Y I 2,718,381 SHUTTLE FOR LOOMS Floyd Y. Collins, Greenwood, S. (3 assignor to Draper Corporation, Hopedale, Mass, a corporation of Mame Application March 21, 1955, Serial No. 495,540

9 Claims. (Cl. 139-207) This invention relates to improvements in loom shuttles and especially in a means for adjustably restraining the bobbin holding spring in the shuttle.

it is a general object of the invention to provide in a shuttle a means for holding the spring more securely and which will serve also for aligning it correctly to position the bobbin and to increase the holding power of the spring within limits.

it is a more specific object of the invention to provide adjustable restraining means which is adapted to elevate the spring, to direct it toward one side or the other and to apply compressive forces against the sides of the spring to tighten it.

Other objects will become apparent from the following detailed disclosure.

Automatic loom shuttles have a spring fixed at one end which is comprised of a U-shaped shank portion and, extending therefrom, spring gripping jaws within which a bobbin is held. These springs are retained by a crossbolt and the clamping effect of a spring cover held by a bolt or screw vertically disposed within the shuttle. These springs are subject to loosening in the shuttle body, and as they are used, open slightly at the jaws so that, along with wear of the bobbin holding grooves, the bobbin is held loosely. The result is that the bobbins are held in improper alignment and, worse still, may move around considerably to cause the thread to be delivered very erratically.

According to the invention, the usual construction is supplemented by adding holding means for the spring which serves a further function of pressing the jaws together and of adjusting the vertical and horizontal relationship of the spring and, of course, of the bobbin.

An added member having a base and wings extending therefrom is fixed in the shuttle body to underly the spring and cover with the wings projecting upwardly at the sides of the U-shaped shank. Each wing has a screw threaded therein one end of which bears against the spring. These afford lateral adjustment and may be used to force the jaws together. Other threaded means in the base may be used to elevate the spring.

The invention will be described in detail by reference to one specific embodiment thereof as shown in the accompanying figures of drawing, wherein:

Fig. l is a plan view of the invention as applied to a shuttle.

Fig. 2 is an elevation of the mechanism of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a section enlarged to show details of the spring, cover and supplementary holding means. v

Fig. 4 is a detail view of the supplementary holding means.

Now referring to Figs. 1 and 2, a shuttle comprising a body 10 has at one end a shuttle spring 11 of more or less the usual type having a U-shaped shank 12 and spring jaws 13 and 14. The latter are grooved at their ends to receive the rings 15 of a bobbin 16. The shank is held in a complementarily shaped opening at the shuttle end and is retained by a cross-bolt l7 and a spring cover nited States Patent 0 ice 18, a screw or bolt 19 passing down through this cover and within the U-shaped shank to lock the assembly in position. Normally, the spring is held by'this means only and, while it serves well in general, springs do loosen requiring frequent tightening and the jaws suffer a definite opening of perhaps of an inch or more which, along with Wear at the grooves, permits the bobbin to be held loosely and to become misaligned so its filling is not properly delivered.

According to the invention, a supplementary holding and adjusting means is utilized and includes a member 20, Fig. 4, which embodies a base 21 and wings 22 and 23. The base is tightly received in a cut-out recess in the shuttle material, Fig. 3, and the wings in other recesses at the sides of the spring receiving slot in the shuttle body.

Screws 24 and 25 are threaded through Wings 22 and 23 and bear at their inner ends against the sides of the U-shaped shank close to the point where the latter diverges into the spring jaws. These are preferably Allen type screws and thus the wood or other material of the shuttle body is drilled out in line with these screws so that a wrench may be inserted to adjust them. By setting up on each screw, the jaws may be forced together to grip the bobbin more securely, and, if desired, one may be tightened and the other retracted to one side or the other to align the spring and consequently the bobbin in the shuttle.

The invention contemplates as one form, the mechanism thus far described, and in addition and in combination, if desired, a vertical adjustment. At the end of the base 21 opposite the wings, two screws 26 and 27, are threaded upwardly to bear against the lower surface of the spring cover 18. By these the tip of the bobbin may be elevated or lowered to align it with the shuttle eye. These screws hear at the sides of the flared part of the lower cover and thus may be used to level the spring,

7 scribed and claimed constitutes a universal adjusting means and also provides for increasing tension or taking up for Wear and weakening of the spring so that the useful and eifect-ive life of "the shuttle spring may be prolonged while preserving the best disposal of the parts for etficient weaving.

Instead of Allen type screws, slotted or Phillips headed screws may be used and a screw driver of appropriate type inserted through the openings to make the desired adjustments. Preferably, the parts are so designed and assembled that the screws 26 and 27 must be set up to raise the spring and cover a few thousandths of an inch in order to align the bobbin properly; this affords the possibility of lowering it later if need be and also makes it easier to arrive at a proper setting initialiy.

The invention applies to shuttles of wood or to those of plastic or other materials. in the case of plastic shuttles, the supplementary holding means may be set into the body as in the case of wood, or may be molded in during the forming of the body blank.

While one embodiment of the invention has been disclosed, it is to be understood that the inventive concept may be carried out in a number of ways. This invention is, therefore, not to be limited toth'e precise details described, but is intended to embrace all variations and modifications thereof falling within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the claims.

I claim:

l. A loom shuttle having in combination, a shuttle body, a bobbin holding spring and a spring cover, bolt means for anchoring said spring and cover in the shuttle body and supplementary threaded means for adjustably 3. restraining said spring laterally and cooperating threaded means for adjusting the elevation of' the spring independently of the said laterally eflective means.

2. A loom shuttle having inv combination, a shuttle body, a bobbin holding spring and a spring c over, bolt means for anchoring said spring and cover in the shuttle body and supplementary, means for adjustabl'y restraining said spring laterally which comprises a. Winged member fixed in said shuttlev body andthreaded means in each wing of said member and. adjustably contacting the sides of said spring.

3. A loom shuttle having in combination,. shuttle body, a bobbin holding spring and a spring cover, bolt means for anchoring said spring. and cover in. the shuttle body and supplementary means for adjustably restraining said spring laterally which, comprises a winged member set in. said shuttle body and underlying the spring and cover while its wings extend upwardly, at the sides of the spring, and threaded means in each wingof said member bearing against the sides of the spring.

4. A loom shuttle having in combination, a shuttle body, a bobbin holding spring and. a spring cover, bolt means for anchoring said spring and cover. in the shuttle body and supplementary means for adjustably restraining said spring laterally which comprises a member having a base set fixedly in the shuttle body beneath the spring and cover, wings projecting upwardly, one at each side of said spring, and a screw threaded into each Wing and bearing against the adjacent side of the spring. and an opening in the shuttle body at each screw to permit adjustment thereof.

5. A loom shuttle having in combination, a shuttle body, a bobbin holding spring and a spring cover, bolt means for anchoring said spring and cover in the shuttle body and supplementary means for adjustably restraining said spring laterally which comprises a winged member fixed in said shuttle body and threaded means in each wing of said member and adjustably contacting the sides of said spring and means adjustable independently ofsai-d laterally effective means for adjusting the elevation of the spring and cover.

6. A loom shuttle having in combination, a shuttle body, a bobbin holding spring and a springcover, bolt means for anchoring said spring and cover in the shuttle body and supplementary means for adjustably restraining said spring laterally which comprises a wingedmember fixed in said shuttle body and threaded means in each '31 wing of said member and adjustably contacting the sides of said spring and" means for adjusting the elevation of the spring and cover which comprises at least one screw threaded upwardly through a part of said Winged member.

7. A loom shuttle having in combination, a shuttle body, a bobbin holding spring and a spring cover, bolt means for anchoring said spring and cover in the shuttle body and supplementary means for adjustably restraining said spring laterally and for. adjusting-its elevation which comprises a member having. a base and upwardly extending wings fixed within said shuttle body and threaded means in each wing in adjustable engagement with the sides of the spring and. at least: onescrew threaded through said base and adjustably engaged with the lower part of said spring cover;

8. A loom shuttle having in combination, a shuttle body, a bobbin holding spring and a spring cover, bolt meansfor anchoring said spring and cover in the shuttle body and supplementary means for adjustably restraining said spring laterally and for adjusting its elevation which comprises a member having a base and upwardly extending wings fixed within said shuttle body and threaded means in each wing in adjustable engagement with the sides of the spring and two screws relatively widely separated, "threaded through said base and adjustably engaged with the lower part of said spring cover.

9. A loom shuttle having in combination, a shuttle body, a bobbin holding spring and a spring cover, bolt means for anchoring said spring and cover in the shuttle body and supplementary means for adjustably restraining said spring laterally and for adjusting its elevationwhich comprises a member having a base and upwardly extending wings fixed within said shuttle body and threaded means in each Wing in adjustable engagement with the sides of the spring and two screws relatively widely separted, threaded through said base and adjustably engaged with the lower part of said spring cover and opening in said shuttle'body for admitting a means to engage and turn said screws for efiecting adjustment of the parts.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,017,782 McCaslin Feb; 20, 1912 1,784,266 Bahan Dec. 9, 1930 1,890,315 Douglas Dec. 6, 1932 2,200,213 Burdett May 7, 1940 2,436,356 Gelpke Feb. 17, 1948 

